The Project
substantial.ch is an independent journalistic project. We tell the stories of people who use psychoactive substances. By sharing a wide range of experiences, patterns of use, and personal motivations, we hope to foster a more nuanced understanding of substance use.
Psychoactive substances are part of everyday life for many people. Yet, the topic remains taboo in society and is criminalized by the state.
substantial.ch believes the legislation is overdue for reform. The classification of substances as “legal” and “illegal” drugs has nothing to do with their actual danger, but is rooted in historically ingrained prejudices and cultural norms—which gets in the way of developing responsible policies and integrating substances constructively into society. Legalizing all substances would enable proper regulation, harm prevention, and safety for producers and consumers alike.
You can find more background and thoughts on this project in the pilot episode of our podcast.
The Portraits
We profile people of all ages, backgrounds, and from all corners of Switzerland. The interviewees share their personal experiences with psychoactive substances from their own perspectives.
For their own protection, all portraits are anonymized. Names and other identifying details have been altered where necessary. We always know the identity of the people interviewed.
All images are produced based on the conversations using AI. For the French and English versions of this website, we used AI-generated translations that were reviewed and proofread by various native speakers. The French and English podcasts are also produced with the help of AI.
The Podcast
You can read or listen to all of our portraits. You can find the individual podcast episodes on our website, directly below each portrait. You can also subscribe to our podcast in your personal podcast player.
About Us
substantial.ch is run by volunteers. Among us are journalists and graphic designers, and some of us wish to remain anonymous due to other professional commitments. Stefanie Pfändler is the project’s initiator and writes under the pseudonym Elle.
Numerous dedicated individuals support the project with expertise, legal advice, as narrators for the German-language podcast, helping with the French and English editions — or by establishing contacts with consumers. As part of the event series Substanzen.Jetzt., we collaborate with Photobastei and the Society for the Expansion of Consciousness ( ). Follow us on Instagram to keep up with upcoming events.
Our approach is journalistic: we aim to illuminate a reality that many people know little about, and invite you to think critically about the role of psychoactive substances and how we — as a society — might deal with them more responsibly.
We are committed to the fundamental principles of journalism.
Contact | Media Inquiries
Stefanie Pfändler
077 435 38 76
substanzielles@proton.me
Funding | Donations
We are an independent project. Everyone involved works on a volunteer basis. The website and podcast are funded by donations. We rely on your support to keep them running.
We are grateful for every contribution, no matter how small, via Twint to 077 435 38 76 or through GoFundMe (with a credit card).
Want to get involved?
If you’d like to share your story, reach out to substanzielles@proton.me and tell us a little bit about yourself.
Please be aware: for some people, having their story made public could be sensitive. We take your privacy seriously. If you have a particularly exposed profile, we recommend reaching out through a third party or using a dedicated secure email address (e.g., Protonmail) — and not including anything in your message that could identify you.
Text: Elle/Luis/Levin
Image: Levin/Grautier.ch
Web: Grautier.ch